No Insurance :/

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kenyasolovely

kenyasolovely

Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
95
Just wondering if anyone else has no insurance and if so how does one go about getting meds without it?

I have no insurance and can't afford my meds. When I tried applying through the hospital "indigent" program that manufactures offer, I was told I make too much. Ummmm:shifty:....OK (that's news to me).
 
I could pay for prednisone when I was on that, because that's one of the cheap drugs. For Asacol HD, I picked up several sample bottles from my GI every time I went in. They understood my situation and were willing to provide them for the whole 3 months it was prescribed.

Now, on Remicade infusions, I applied for Johnson and Johnson's Patient Assistance Program for help with the cost. Although everything else I applied for turned me down, J & J accepted my application. They send the Remicade and a supply kit to my GI for free. I pick it up from there, and take it home to my fridge until my infusion day. They give it to me completely free, contingent upon me receiving my care in my own home, rather than in a facility. (Double score for me! I love getting home care.) The only thing I have to pay for is my nurse who comes to my home to administer the drug.

As for the procedures, doctor visits, and blood work... I have to pay with my own cash.

There are a lot of drug companies who are willing to help you. They make their drugs so expensive because they know the insurance companies will likely cover it, but they never intend to hurt the patient's checkbook.

Good luck! I know how hard it is to get it started, but it's worth all the work it takes. :)
 
Thanks Jessi!

Well seems like we're pretty much in the same boat. My prednisone is like $100.00 for a month supply, which is totally within budget. The Pentasa, I get several samples from my GI as well, so I'm set on that for about 3-4 months. The mercaptapurine is what I need and can't get access to, its a tricky little drug that not very many take. I am going to go back to my GI and see if he can help prescribe me soemthing else. I've not heard of the infusions, but if I can get assistance for something then maybe it's worth a shot in at least trying to ask.

Today I had an episode that was so painful, I was in tears. I know its going to be worth it in the long run, anything is better than this. And last night I woke up out of my sleep in pain I woke my fiance up as well, it was the worse (insert super sad face).

Question for you: Do you work outside the home?
 
Like Jessi said, lots of medications have patient assistance programs which are very good.
Humira has a cash price of $1,800 or something but I applied for the assistance (even though I have insurance which made it $40) and now it's $5!
I would imagine that they give uninsured patients extremely little to no cost just because they always are trying to get people to take their drug!
 
Emily,

The do offer assistence programs but I was told by the hospital social worker I didn't "qualify" because I make too much money. If my income goes down or was little to nothing, I could apply for a substantial discount. The sad thing is they are using my LAST years numbers...which are no longer accurate, with all the missed time off work, I've made about $10K less this year than I did last year.

I'm considering trying to reapply though and see if I can try again. One thing I've learned is there are always loop holes for the persistent! ;)
 
Hi there! I was in the same boat as you a few years ago - no insurance but we made "too much" money for medicade. I found out that Walgreen's has an rx discount program, called the W card. I pay $20 for a year's membership, and it saves me a ton of money. I get 90 pills of pred (10mg) for $12, and my mercaptopurine is about $55 for 30 pills (50mg). The w card saves me about half off the mercaptopurine - it still adds up because I'm on 75mg/day, but it's managable.

If there's a walgreen's anywhere near you, I'd go ask them about the w card/ rx costs (I don't know if it's standard across the country or not.) Now we have insurance, but the prescription coverage is horrible, so I'm still getting my meds at walgreens with the w card for now.

Also, I've heard that Humira is supposed to have a really good patient financial assistance program - might ask your GI if that would be a good rx for you.
 
If you are thinking along the lines of infusions, then you should check out Humira. Humira is similiar to Remicade, minus sitting at the hospital for 3 hours every three months. Humira offers a patient assistance program, and I believe that I only paid $6 for the Humira itself. That's pretty good considering the cost without insurance (2,400). I wish that my GI dr. would have put me on it earlier because I haven't had any flares since. Check out the Humira website, they are willing to help.
 
kenyasolovely said:
Thanks Jessi!

Today I had an episode that was so painful, I was in tears. I know its going to be worth it in the long run, anything is better than this. And last night I woke up out of my sleep in pain I woke my fiance up as well, it was the worse (insert super sad face).

Question for you: Do you work outside the home?
Click to expand...

I am so sorry you were in so much pain. I've definitely been there. I remember lots or waking up in the middle of the night, needing pain killers of massages on my knees, etc. I feel good at present. I guess I'm in remission. I just struggle with chronic fatigue and joint pains...

As for your question, I worked up until March this year, when I resigned. My husband has a new job now, and insurance will kick in about 1 1/2 weeks from now. I'm sure, though, that they aren't going to cover my pre-existing conditions. How about you? Do you work?
 
When I was on 6MP without insurance, my pharmacy had a plan that reduced the cost. I talked with the pharmacist and they told me about it. Also, the pharmacy let me buy a few weeks at a time.

Wendy
 
I think all states offer some sort of health insurance to cover any chronic illnesses. You could also do some research and find out what the state of Virginia has to offer. It varies from state to state. For example, if you live in Texas, you can join the Texas Risk Pool medical insurance program if you have an eligible illness - which crohns and uc are. So, take a look online and see if your state offers anything like this.
 
InkyStinky said:
Hi there! I was in the same boat as you a few years ago - no insurance but we made "too much" money for medicade. I found out that Walgreen's has an rx discount program, called the W card. I pay $20 for a year's membership, and it saves me a ton of money. I get 90 pills of pred (10mg) for $12, and my mercaptopurine is about $55 for 30 pills (50mg). The w card saves me about half off the mercaptopurine - it still adds up because I'm on 75mg/day, but it's managable.

If there's a walgreen's anywhere near you, I'd go ask them about the w card/ rx costs (I don't know if it's standard across the country or not.) Now we have insurance, but the prescription coverage is horrible, so I'm still getting my meds at walgreens with the w card for now.

Also, I've heard that Humira is supposed to have a really good patient financial assistance program - might ask your GI if that would be a good rx for you.
Click to expand...

OH WOW! Thats amazingly awesome good news. I will go this weekend and check into it there is a Walgreens right across from the YMCA we go work out at. And those prices are affordable and I can definatly manage those prices. I really appreciate you posting this information for me!
 
Jessi said:
I am so sorry you were in so much pain. I've definitely been there. I remember lots or waking up in the middle of the night, needing pain killers of massages on my knees, etc. I feel good at present. I guess I'm in remission. I just struggle with chronic fatigue and joint pains...

As for your question, I worked up until March this year, when I resigned. My husband has a new job now, and insurance will kick in about 1 1/2 weeks from now. I'm sure, though, that they aren't going to cover my pre-existing conditions. How about you? Do you work?
Click to expand...

I do work and its killing me. I work in Property Management, in an office, all day long with no assistant or aid. I'm doing essentially the job of the Manager, Asst Manager and Leasing Consultant. Now to add fuel to the fire, one of the other managers up the road from me is out on medical leave and I'm having to balance TWO properties essentially alone. I'm working 6 days this week and the stress is unbearable. My flare up is getting worse and worse, I'm trying to manage the stress....but no sane person can deal with that workload without breaking down. I do have FMLA however, and I am going to be taking 1 week off towards the end of October to rest.

I'm quitting in February. My fiance will have be done with his masters and already has some colleges offering him some positions. I'll be in school full-time and using my income tax money, school money and applying for disability to get by.

And I'm sad to hear they won't cover a pre-existing condition on insurance. I swear....we as a country....have GOT to do better! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. And I know what you mean about the messages....my SO is so amazing, he gives me foot and leg messages whenever I ask! Yay for that! lol
 
Too all,

Thanks I'm going to ask my GI about the Humira. I'm still waiting on a call back to set up an appointment! He's very busy but I don't mind the wait, he's is very, very good!
 
Sugarberry,

I'm glad this was able to help you. I went online just now and went to the walgreens website. I searched for the W prescription card. My prednisone, which I'm on 20mg a day would be $12.00 for a month supply versus the $89 at RiteAid.

The mercaptopurine, I'm on 100mg of that and so that's $130.00 a month or close to that which is better than the $380 I was told it would be at Rite Aid.

The Pentasa on the other hand is still wayyyyyyy on the high end however; I have about 2 months supply of that I get from my GI. Make sure you ask for samples!!!
 
Sorry to interfere in your discussion, but how can any country claim to be part of modern, civilised society without universal health care?? Do North Americans realise that most Europeans look on you with the same pity and confusing we feel when looking at the people of East Africa starving and without access to clean water? Society passed the point of being capable of looking after everyone, including the chronically sick a long time ago, why are some nations still in the dark ages. </slightly drunk rant over>
 
wow i never knew that u had to pay to stay well and healthy over the pond, i just though life insurance for you guys was for ops etc!thats sucks boo to them, i think if you have a long term illness that is non curable it should be free!!
 
I'm uninsured, too. Hugs.

Go NOW to PCIP.gov, it's just for people like us.

Until then, try health warehouse dot com, I find the have the best prices.

Good luck!
 
Kenyasolovely
I have been on Humaria for 10 months and when I contacted them about assistance do to having health insurance,but no prescription help they offered me assistance and I'm so glad they did the med is almost 1800.00 a month and they got it to where I only pay $5.00 month as a copy. I'm not sure they even asked me my income because if they did I'm sure they wouldn't help me.
I hope you get to feeling better and all the help thats been offered here helps. Good luck.
 
Just chiming in on the insurance thing, for our UK friends . . . it is terrible. Health insurance is very, very expensive, so a lot of people don't have it, and you often still have to pay for almost everything, just at reduced prices. Mine, for instance, is $1200 a month, and I still pay $50 to see a doctor, $100 for all testing, $2500 for hospitalizations, etc. And if you are uninsured, and develop a disease (like Crohn's), if you try to get insurance carriers will usually refuse to cover you for that disease (which they call a pre-exisitng consition), unless you are lucky enough to get insurance through an employer and don't have to buy it on your own. Oh, and if you get an expensive disease, again like Crohn's, private insurers can and often will drop you. It is truly awful.
 
No insurance blues

...but thank God the Teabaggers are protecting us from the scourge of socialism! Because being uninsured with a serious, chronic illness sure is worth it to prove a philosophical point!

(Sorry, I live in Idaho, where I had to listen to rural whackos tell me I didn't deserve "government insurance," and if I got sick the solution was to simply "go to the hospital.")
 
Wow, I love how we all can get a long without insulting, degrading, or inserting un-needed political opinions. /sarcasm

I could add my opinions about the shortcomings of other countries and also about the political spectrum within the US. But I don't because this is a forum meant to bring us all together to offer SUPPORT.
 
The health system in the US versus those of other countries has been discussed and argued at length in the past in the Members Only forum.

Perhaps it would be wise to leave off on that particular topic and return to subject matter that the original poster enquired about.

Dusty.
 
There was nothing wrong with your post kyi or anyone's else's for that matter.

The issue of health care in the US is deeply personal and as it inevitably leads to politics, opinions are strong and can and do lead to quite vigorous argument. I just don't think this is the thread in which to express those opinions.

If anyone wishes to look at the threads that have discussed health care in the US you will find them here and here.

Dusty. :)
 
thanks :) i was rather intreged may have to have a look, im not commenting though i dont like arguements lol
 
I had to pay out of pocket a couple times for 6mp. If you're paying out of pocket you need to compare, because you'll find a very wide range of prices (i.e. $100-300). There are rx comparison websites, and you can also call. Check at least 4 or 5 places. I ended up going to Costco (a members only place) except they have to allow the public access to the pharmacy. It was like $100 a month for 60 pills, probably half the price of the next cheapest. Don't forget to try sam's club.

6PM did not keep my crohn's under control, and I ended having bigtime problems which resulted in surgery. On the one hand, you have to understand that sometimes surgery is the best option and not be afraid of it... but try to keep the disease under control, surgery and recovery are very difficult.

You can also try to get involved in a study. I know they were doing just a slight variation on humira that was already a year or two in, and you'd get free treatment for like 4 or 5 years. Not all studies are very dangerous.
 
your state or city might have a program in new york it's called healthny, which provide sliding scale insurance. See if any of the discount cards from target or walgreens can help, some of them offer very cheap genrics Predisone is one targets list http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=pharmacy_generic_drugs_alphabetical
walmart also has there list online. http://medicationfinder.walmart.com/mapd/MedicationFinder.jsp

Asacol, humira, nexium both have discount programs that are not income based.

ask your doc if he has any of those discount coupons or samples. though i imagine going back to the doc can't be cheap either. Constantly ask anyone who deals with meds. Ask at CCFA as well.

this is actually my worst nightmare. i always say i work for my health insurance as i realized my meds would be 3x my salary without it.

Good luck!
 

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